Where has your bike taken you today?

[Eugene Oppelt]

R304 to Malmesbury

[Dusty]

17 hours ago, Skubarra said:

 

My Strava profile - all the rides should be public (let me know if its not) 

https://www.strava.com/athletes/2996653

Chris - in short we made Rhodes Hotel our base, left our cars there. We had one support car for the ride. Nice old platteland hotel, very cheap. The town is also stunning with other accommodation options

Day 1 we cycled from Rhodes up to to the top of Naudesnek, there is a lodge called Tenahead (was the only expensive accommodation of the tour), a buddy & I felt energetic and cycled down & up the Natal side of Naudesnek as well.

Day 2 We cycled from Tenahead to Tiffendel along the Tiffendel-Teneahead-Traverse, a 30km contour jeeptrack along the Lesotho border (the only day a 4x4 was needed for the support vehicle). Tiffendale is unfortunately closed at the moment (think its bankrupt), but the guard at the gate was happy for us to take the track up to Ben McDhui, about 8km from the Tiffendell turn-off but give yourself about 2 hours to go up & down. From there we cycled back to Rhodes down Carlislepass - ridiculously steep, don't think its really possible to cycle up there without walking, was happy to go down it

Day 3 We cycled from Rhodes to Wartrail, we stayed at Frosty Peaks, a self catering farmhouse but the farmer provided food for braais & breakfasts

Day 4 we did an out and back from Wartrail over Lundean's nek pass to Telle, a town on the border of Lesotho - if one feels like it you can extend the day to cycle to the border post or up in Dangershoek 

Day 5 we cycled from Wartrail to Barkley East, via Balloch, a stunning farm (looks a bit like a Disney movie setting) where the Sky Run from Lady Gray stops over, was about 60km in total. Also nice scenery and some interesting historic bridges & railway tracks. Stayed over in Barkly East.

On average we did about 50km a day, which doesn't sound much but between the high altitude (you are almost always above 2500m on day 1 and 2) and the climbing it's quite draining, I worked in a few extra breakfast rides and in total I did more than 7000m of climbing with just over 300km of riding.

There are very few people (and no shops & restaurants) along the road, so make sure to take all you need along. Always felt save, no chance of taking a wrong turn and ending up in a dodgy area. Roads are in a good condition (except for the tracks on Day 2)

Other alternatives would be to find time to ride Volunteershoek pass between Tiffendell and Wartrail which we didn't have time for (preferably down), stay over in Balloch farm which is picturesque and find a way to incorporate Joubert's Pass to Lady Gray which I understand is also very scenic.

If anyone wants to do this area and the passes as a bikepacking ride, pop onto the massive adventures website and download the route from there. Their route is a circular one starting and ending in Lady Grey. Awesome place to ride (sometimes push) a bike.

[Skubarra]

9 minutes ago, 'Dale said:

R304 to Malmesbury

Dale - have you seen the Old Malmesbury road (past Kalbaskraal) roadworks are finished? One can now do a nice tar loop from Durbanville to Malmesbury instead of an out-and-back.

[Skubarra]

7 minutes ago, Dusty said:

If anyone wants to do this area and the passes as a bikepacking ride, pop onto the massive adventures website and download the route from there. Their route is a circular one starting and ending in Lady Grey. Awesome place to ride (sometimes push) a bike.

Very interesting concept... In my biased personal opinion I would not be too keen to do the unsupported bikepacking thing in the area (if I am going to do 10,500m climbing over 530km I prefer not to carry lots of extra stuff on my bike) + there are basically nowhere to resupply outside of the larger towns so it will take careful planning - but I am sure there are a few nutjobs willing to take on a challenge like this.

There are certainly loads of scenic options, far more than what we could cover in 5 days at a generally leisurely pace.

One event to look out for for people interested in riding in the area is the Maloti 100 miler in September, didn't happen this year but might be resurrected next year. You ride from Barkley East to Maclear via Rhodes and the Naudesnek pass. Certain its proper tough but beatiful route.

[Eugene Oppelt]

20 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

Dale - have you seen the Old Malmesbury road (past Kalbaskraal) roadworks are finished? One can now do a nice tar loop from Durbanville to Malmesbury instead of an out-and-back.

I heard, yes! Happiness. Used to roll it on the bumpy days during winter. 

[Dusty]

4 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

Very interesting concept... In my biased personal opinion I would not be too keen to do the unsupported bikepacking thing in the area (if I am going to do 10,500m climbing over 530km I prefer not to carry lots of extra stuff on my bike) + there are basically nowhere to resupply outside of the larger towns so it will take careful planning - but I am sure there are a few nutjobs willing to take on a challenge like this.

There are certainly loads of scenic options, far more than what we could cover in 5 days at a generally leisurely pace.

One event to look out for for people interested in riding in the area is the Maloti 100 miler in September, didn't happen this year but might be resurrected next year. You ride from Barkley East to Maclear via Rhodes and the Naudesnek pass. Certain its proper tough but beatiful route.

I've done this 'nutter' route twice and am going back again this weekend. The area is simply stunning, but the climbing does make it tough. There is a surprising amount of accomodation at convenient distances along the way and the hosts, being farming people are very special. Planning is definately pretty crucial for bikepacking in remote areas. Most probably better to not do alone in case of a fall, but certainly one of the safest areas to ride a bike in South Africa in terms of traffic and security, in my opinion.

[Skubarra]

5 minutes ago, Dusty said:

I've done this 'nutter' route twice and am going back again this weekend. The area is simply stunning, but the climbing does make it tough. There is a surprising amount of accomodation at convenient distances along the way and the hosts, being farming people are very special. Planning is definately pretty crucial for bikepacking in remote areas. Most probably better to not do alone in case of a fall, but certainly one of the safest areas to ride a bike in South Africa in terms of traffic and security, in my opinion.

Agree, with the quiet roads & few people around we always felt save - never a given in our country... Good luck and remember to post your pics!

[DJR]

1 hour ago, 'Dale said:

R304 to Malmesbury

 

They have fixed up the Old Malmesbury Road (North of Philadelphia) so beautifully.

Edited September 22, 2021 by DJR

[Frosty]

3 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Finally we can say adieu to the coldest winter Cape Town has had in many years. I'm normally a winter person, but I'm just about ready for summer now. Yay.

Must be age, but I forget quickly how cold the previous year was and the current one is always the coldest.
From a highveld side, I'm looking forward to some rain and the dry/dull colours to turn into vibrant colours.

[Eddy Gordo]

50 minutes ago, DJR said:

They have fixed up the Old Malmesbury Road (North of Philadelphia) so beautifully.

damn, I need to go ride out that way. Havent in a long time, mostly cause almost no one wants to ride road. Gonna have to venture out on my own soon.

[Beattbox]

53 minutes ago, DJR said:

They have fixed up the Old Malmesbury Road (North of Philadelphia) so beautifully.

Is this the start of a plan to go ride there?

[Robbie Stewart]

3 hours ago, 'Dale said:

R304 to Malmesbury

I rode here once. I started at Sunningdale and did a round-about ride to Meerendal, up the Dorstberg and down, and then up to Spez Bona before turning left and heading out this way. When I finally turned I got a devil wind in my face. That was the one time I finally relented by the time I reached Bloemendal and called my wife to come fetch me. I've never bothered since.

You road riders have my respect.

[Skubarra]

11 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I rode here once. I started at Sunningdale and did a round-about ride to Meerendal, up the Dorstberg and down, and then up to Spez Bona before turning left and heading out this way. When I finally turned I got a devil wind in my face. That was the one time I finally relented by the time I reached Bloemendal and called my wife to come fetch me. I've never bothered since.

You road riders have my respect.

Not a loop I would do without carefully checking the weather websites first... In winter you can sometimes find a few windless days, sometimes even the option to head home with a slight tailwind!

[Robbie Stewart]

1 minute ago, Skubarra said:

Not a loop I would do without carefully checking the weather websites first... In winter you can sometimes find a few windless days, sometimes even the option to head home with a slight tailwind!

I was smashing PR's all the way to Spez Bona on the day. That also ended up being the day I almost pushed my bike up the hill on Wellington from Graanendal side. I stopped under those trees for nearly 20 minutes working up the courage to pedal that hill - which in cycling terms is more of a bump.

Massive bonk, partly due to the wind from hell.

[ChrisF]

To the office ...

 

[NotSoBigBen]

“Sunsets, like childhood, are viewed with wonder not just because they are beautiful but because they are fleeting.” – Richard Paul Evans